BUDGET DEAL REMAINS ELUSIVE

In dueling appearances, Obama and Boehner display divisions over how to avoid ‘fiscal cliff’

“This is not a game. This is real because so much of the sequester (spending cuts) would be defense — half of it,” he said. “I just don’t think it’s workable.”

Rep. Tom Rooney of Florida, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said he will vote for the legislation even if it leaves the defense cuts in place. He said if he didn’t vote for a bill that prevents a tax increase for 99 percent of people “I’m not doing my job.”

That appeared to be the hope of Boehner and the rest of the leadership, that by showing his rank and file is united behind the fallback bill, the speaker would be in a strong position to demand concessions from the White House in the broader endgame.